Changes to BC Building Code 2018 effective Dec. 12

Revision 2 of the BC Building Code has been approved. These changes were effective Dec. 12, 2019, and apply to building permits applied for on or after this date.

Amendments to the BC Building Code 2018 include:

• Changes to harmonize the BC Building Code with the National Building Code to provide greater flexibility for the construction of new secondary suites.
• Early adoption of the National Building Code requirements for encapsulated mass timber to enable the construction of 12-storey tall wood buildings in specific jurisdictions. Accompanying changes to the BC Fire Code are proposed and anticipated to be available soon.
• New carbon monoxide detector and alarm requirements for stores, offices, classrooms, churches and recreational facilities.
• Preliminary Energy Step Code requirements for hospitals, schools, community centres and university/college classrooms have been introduced, and requirements for residential and office buildings have been refined, to support the CleanBC commitment.
• Increased requirements for lighting in recycling rooms.
• Additional requirements for fire alarms and exits to increase safety on occupied roofs.

The online BC Building Code 2018 will be updated to reflect the Revision 2 changes. Customers with binder copies of the BC Building Code will be able to print the updated code sections online at www.bccodes.ca shortly.

The Building and Safety Standards Branch will publish technical bulletins about the code changes on their website in the coming weeks. View a description of the amendments and the rationale for the changes.

Questions about these changes can be emailed to codequestion@gov.bc.ca.